How Long Does A Car Battery Last?

An unexpected flat battery can be a huge inconvenience on the road. The signs of a dying car battery can be difficult to notice if you’re not familiar with their workings. Plus, being the vehicle’s silent workhorse, keeping tabs on it is challenging. Knowing battery health is necessary if you don’t want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere. Hence, the question arises – how long does a car battery last?

The answer is more complex than you might think as this varies from one unit to another. Factors like how you use, store, and maintain them determine their longevity. Quality is another factor that impacts car battery life, so you’ll want to go for premium options, budget permitting. This blog discusses how long a car battery should last and the signs of a dying one. Let’s dive in and find out.

The average life of a car battery is three to four years in “normal” conditions. Here, normal is a relative term concerning a vehicle and how it’s used. For example, using your car to commute medium to longer distances daily is perfectly normal for battery health. On the other hand, if you hardly drive, its condition will degrade very quickly. That is why some units last up to six years, while others need a replacement within a year.
Several factors will impact how long an auto battery lasts. The following points can severely reduce battery life span. Worse – compounding these factors will certainly degrade it even faster:

A High Number of Short Trips: Driving your car regularly on shorter journeys can put additional strain on the alternator and starter motor. They don’t allow enough time for the alternator to get to work and recharge the battery as much as on longer trips.

• Local Climate: Extreme weather can have a detrimental effect on auto battery life expectancy. The electrolyte solution in batteries evaporates faster in high temperatures, reducing capacity and increasing failure risk. Similarly, cold temperatures put additional strain on it which can decrease its efficiency.
• Extended Periods of Non-usage: An alternator has a symbiotic relationship with the car battery and is a major contributor to its health. If you go without driving for too long, the alternator can’t charge the battery, leading to its permanent end.
• Leaving Your Lights On: Forgetting to switch off the vehicle’s light is a sure-shot way to drain your battery.
• Faulty Parts: Issues like loose or corroded cables, mechanical problems, and a broken charging system all contribute to a shortened car battery lifespan.
• Irregular Maintenance: Failure to schedule regular vehicle check-ups affects battery health. A failing unit may eventually lead to other malfunctions, increasing repair costs down the line.

Are you worried about your car’s battery life? Do you want to check if it needs a replacement? Before you run out to buy a new one, perform a couple of checks at home to assess its health. A car battery voltage test is an easy way to examine its overall condition.

Generally, 12.6 volts is considered to be a healthy battery voltage. With your engine running, the reading can go higher and range between 13.7v and 14.7v. Hence, testing the voltage after you drive your car will likely indicate a higher reading. It’s best to conduct the test after the vehicle has been parked for a while to get an accurate result.

To perform this assessment, a handy device called a multimeter can provide the exact reading if used correctly. Here’s what you should do:

• Turn off the ignition and other accessories like radio or lights
• Set the multimeter to 20V DC (If it’s not auto-ranging)
• Place the red probe on the positive battery terminal (indicated by a red cover)
• Touch the black lead to the negative terminal
• Check the reading on the device’s screen

If the measurement comes negative, you’ve placed the probes the wrong way. Rectify the mistake by switching them up to get an accurate scan. Has your reading come up short of 12.4 volts? This means your car’s battery lifetime has just come to an end and must be replaced.

A failing battery often gives off certain signs indicating it’s time to install a new one. For instance, have you ever felt your vehicle sound sluggish when trying to start? Or does it take a long time for the engine to catch? This is a warning sign that must not be ignored. There are other cues you need to pay attention to, including:

• Old Battery: As the average car battery life is about 3-4 years, you may want to get it inspected if it has been that long. Hence, it’s important to know the age of your existing unit.
• Dim Headlights: If your headlights are lower in intensity than before for no inexplicable reason, you may have a problem.
• Engine Cranks, but Won’t Start: A situation where the engine fails to turn on even after multiple tries could indicate a flat battery.
• Jump Start Required: A jump start is necessary when the car’s battery is too weak to start the engine. If you find yourself having to perform this action a lot, it’s time to visit the auto workshop.
• Cracked or Swollen Battery: Always check under the hood daily before you begin driving to identify issues like a cracked or swollen unit.
  The smell of Rotten Eggs: A smelling odour inside your car could point to a battery leakage. This is caused by corrosion and requires immediate replacement.

Sometimes the easiest way to find out how long should the battery last on your car is by taking it to the experts. While it’s possible to increase longevity, the battery will eventually stop working after some time. Why put yourself in unexpected breakdown blues when you can seek professional advice from an experienced mechanic? At Gunceler Motors, our experts can perform a bunch of tests to determine your car’s battery life.

We use advanced tools and techniques to identify any underlying issue. If required, our team will replace your battery with a high-quality part on the spot. So, stop worrying about driving your car with a compromised battery, make an appointment with us. Call our experts on 0421 793 338 or drop an email at guncelermotors@hotmail.com to learn more about our services.